Attend Poe's Funeral In Baltimore, If You Dare

Before "The Wire," Edgar Allan Poe held a monopoly on mapping the scary streets of Baltimore. Now Charm City is repaying the favor by holding a morbid bicentennial only a true Poe fan could love.

The writer will be lying in state at the Poe House and Museum (203 Amity St.) on October 7 from noon to 11PM for admirers to come pay their last respects. Show off your recitatory chops at a candlelit vigil on October 8 at midnight at the Westminster Graveyard (519 West Fayette St.), then don your dress blacks for the October 11 funeral procession from Amity House to Westminster. Creepy!

Even if you can't get bereavement leave for your favorite author, visiting sites on the historic Raven Trailincluding Baltimore's Jewish Museum and the Maryland Historical Societyby October 15 could score you a free return trip to the city and a private tour of the Poe House. (Don't go in the basement!) Check out the Poecentric page Nevermore2009.com for all the Poe-goings-on. Ooh, we've got the cold shivers now.